76 Preface وَلَقَد أَخَذناهُم بِالعَذابِ فَمَا استَكانوا لِرَبِّهِم وَما يَتَضَرَّعونَYusuf AliWe inflicted Punishment1 on them, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor do they submissively entreat (Him)!- Some Commentators understand the battle of Badr to be meant here: if so, this particular verse would be of the Medīna period. But it is better to understand it as referring to the same “distress” as in the preceding verse, or to punishments in general, which obstinate sinners refuse to take as warnings given to them to mend their ways and turn in repentance to God.